Method and apparatus for pouncing felt



July 29, 1952 J KANE 2,604,684

METHQD AND APPARATUS FOR POUNCING FELT Filed March 9, 1951 4 Sheets -Shee 1 INVENTOR 1222 E. Kane BY ATTORNEZZUV July 29, 1952 J. E.- KANE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POUNCING FELT Filed March 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR John E. Kane 1 ,0414; V ATTORNEYS MEL) July 29, 1952 J. E. KANE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POUNCING FELT 4 Shee is-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1951 WW W L INVENTOR John E Kane m E N m w A July 29, 1952 J N 2,604,684

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POUNCING FELT Fi led March 9, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR j I John EKane avg L {2 M/ j ATTORNEYS Patented July 29, 1952 ILTEDT STATES? METHODT :ANDZAPIPfiATUS: FOR FPOUNCINGI J Ohn'iE. Kane; .Danbury,

FrankH. Lee Company, Danbury;-=Conn;acor--- poration of Connecticut Applicatiolr'Marchflf1951, Serial No; 214,728

20- Claixus. Cl. 26-28) 1 This zin-vention relatesto a method and ape paratus-= fdrpouncing-fe1twhich-has been falbri- 1 cated in 1ong=.strips of considerablet-width. It;- is expedient under certain-circumstances and-for certain purposes to manufacture iur. felt in'strips 5- of er ga 40 td-50 :feet in length or some greaterindefinite: length and in widths Of-Yet gt 25 -to '30 inches-:or mores,

The industry has; however; been confronted:

with di'fficu'lties in: performingithereon thezfini-iv tionand to shbwmneof thev'ario'us=possille forms ishingroperation"known inthe -art as pouncinggft The:.nature of: the initial forming-operationsdm clu'din'githosezof shrinking,scompactingaand hard; L enin'gs inherently'i results ia'ini: non-uniformity? of thicknesssand an'i uneverr'csurface of :hi'g'lr spots an'dllowi spots. 1 Pouncingfis inormailyzperformedz-z by"-passingathesmaterial. between az-ip'ailt. of :rolls one-50f :which is :provided:with-zansabradingxsura faces. pairtsof long: 'rol'ls of 5 such: character;

of apparatus embodying the 'inventions Fig: 1 is a view inperspectiveand 'ilargelyedia grammatic showing the majorelements ofi'am apparatus adapted to perform thefim'etho'dz' Ffgsz is ra sidewi'ew in "-eleva'ti'onofi a machine embbdying the principles of the*"im/ention, vthee entrained stripfbeing broken the midd-leewitl r the 1 end assembliesv of the apparatus brought closer together in'-' order: better :to 'show theiiaptr 3 however; presentssazzgripping:2areaaofifconsidere paratus on asuitabl'e -scale;.

abletextent. andteither ith'e :zeffiectiveepouncing "is 1imited;substantial1y to=theehighr"spotsswithzr a consequent": nonr-uniforma finish, or excessive pouncing ;must bbe iiperformedgto; :reach the low Fig.2 .3::-is a cross:section:imelevatiomlookingz-: toward the major: mechanism: :from litheright-:- in- Fig: 2 ibut withathe stripcand-llvarious :otherr elements L omitted: bettenzto :di's'close scertaimifeaa spots with an: undesirablereduction in: thickness 22:25 ,ltures ofi theroperatingzmechanism;

in some placesrat :least landr-aglwaste of material;

It is an object- 0f this invention. to remedy; this condition and to provide other advantages: astwill-ube apparent a. lt involvesathe principles andal'featunesr of pouncing the strip 5 materialaby; 3 the 1' application 1 of arrabradingymeans .-.whichis; effective at any: instant. vover a smal lrsareancom+ prising a relatively; narrow-portion oftheg-width ofathe-strip. Theendsnf the-strip are -joined to fOIlII'ffi/w closed belt. and the v belt caused to-circue. late continuously over supporting guides. The; abradingymeans *operates to pounce latrelatively narrow longitudinally ;extendingpath on the sur.- facet which by .-transverse vfeedingof. the-r-abrada ingj means resultsinacontinuous operation. 7 Bee causewof the .small effective areafiofi operation the abradingc. means P follows substantialhi the general I'surface contour of the unfinished strip" and; a vdesiiedhuniform' finish is. produced without unnecessary:i'reduction of 'thicknessor waste of ma terial. The "continuous -character"of the "opera= tion" eflects desirable conveniences and econo= w mics:

Otherobj ects "of the invention are -'concern'ed- 01 ingxrolitiandsthe pressuresdevice sand relatibnaot;

Filer-5.4 iS -ECFSidBLViGW :showing the arrangement-IE ofcthezrol'lsiinzthe pounningza'ollsendxofiithe:maachineebutz omitting :various' mechanical :detai-ls' Figrsfi is azfragmentary wiewrshowinggshe-pouri Eigiifi fiSJaiJCI'GSSZFSBCbiDDIIiII lelevationctakenziorrr; substantially ithe dine-5+-Ewof:FEig.-;2:showing;par-e ticularly: the means; for controllingg'therz align? imentsofirthe estrip' overrthe'zrollers and:,-omittinga otherrelements vfrom :Htherbackground a; and Figa; '7 is, a= fragmentary :view showing' zelements of: .ther :cont-rol for the traversinggmeanssn Reference is I made :first toi Fig." 1 which: gshowstr: ,the principal elements of a form ofiapparatuse adapted :to carry;=outvthe ipriznciples 120% -v the :in

vention a. The .strip z mayL comprisewaestrip ofiafune felt of aicharacter fsuchz as :is icommonlmemp'lnyede inc hats; ladies? purses-rend 'fsimi1an:a1 ticl'es-, and;

as rreceivedufroma the v forming operationssmay:

have azlengtiriofgyfor example,-:454,to50 feet-andma Width of; .fo'riexamp1e; 26:inches.& Such aistrini (I lis as shown? threadedwover 'azsuitablevarrang ment'wof supporting;*. and: dri'vingg i rolls an'dxatheriwith certain mechanical elements or features-5 ;ends:irimmedisquareandaj oinedrtogetheritcef ma combined in a" novel manner" to" effect advantages of operation and results as wi1l"appearmorefully hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the sev-- aaclosed': belt by; 'means:of..:,the. :app1ication;,-2.-fon .1 example: .ofpressure; sensitive'a tape, as shown at: H In thearrangementrofvapparatuseshownrg the: pouncing operation; is merformedar: on! the a eralIsteps-and the relation'of one or more of such' lco :outemsurface iof whee-strip: andliaccordingly, then 3 joining means is applied on the inner surface.

The system of supporting rolls disclosed includes a feed roll l2 driven from a motor l3, idler rolls [4 and I5, a feed roll it driven by the motor I! and idler rolls [8 and IS. The rolls l2 and I6 should be so proportioned and related to their respective driving means such that the peripheral speed of the two rolls will be substantially equal. If desired, the two rolls may, of course, be operated from a common source through the provision of suitable drive connections. Provision is made for adjusting the position of one or more rolls to compensate for strips of different lengths and conveniently for this purpose the rolls l6 and I8 and the drive motor I! and supporting frame parts may be mounted on an independent guide way whereby the unit may be adjusted bodily in the direction of the arrows 2!.

Suitable means are employed to correct lateral creeping of the strip and maintain it in a predetermined path. As indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, this may comprise a rod or roll 22 pivoted at 23 on a fixed support 24 adjustable through a vertical link 25 from the servomotor 26 adapted to swing the arm 21 connected to the link 25. The servomotor 26 may be controlled by suitable electric eye means comprising one or more light sources 28 and correspondingly one or more photoelectric cells 29 connected to the controls for the servomotor 26-.

Supported in fixed bearings adjacent the inclined run Illa of the strip is a pouncing roll driven from the motor 36 at a reasonably rapid surface speed considerably in excess of the linear speed of the strip [0. The direction of surface movement may be thesame as shown by the arrows in Figure l. The roll 35is provided with an abrading surface of a character commonly employed in the pouncing of felt. The length of thepouncing roll should at least equal the maximum width of the strip material desired to be treated in the apparatus. Mounted on the opposite-side of the strip from the pouncing roll 35 is a pressure device comprising a small roll 3'! freely rotatable in bearings at the upper end of its supporting plate or bracket 38 secured at its lower end to a rod 39 which is supported in suitable bearings in a further supporting member here shown as an I-beam 40. As will be described more fully in connection with the details of the machine, the rail or beam All is secured to a suitable carriage provided with means for traversing it longitudinally in the direction of the arrows M as by means of a lead screw 42 driven froma motor 43 which may be reversible, or embody suitable reversing means in the drive connection, to traverse the beam and thereby the pressure roll 31 in either direction laterally of the strip ID.

The pressure roll 37 in normal operation is urged forward against the strip felt by means of suitable elastic means such as the fiat springs 46 secured tothe upper face of the rail 46 by means of cap screws 41 and 48. The tension on the spring may be varied by the setting of the cap screw 41 as will'be apparent from Fig. 4. The pressure roll 31 may be restrained in a retracted ineffective position by suitable latching means comprising a lever 49 secured to the rod 39 to which is also non-rotatably secured the plate 38 carrying the roll 31. The lever 49 carries a latching finger 50 adapted to be engaged over the edge of the upper face of the rail 40 in which case the pressure roll is held in the retracted position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. By ref-' erence to Figs. 4 and 5 in particular, it will be noted that with the roll 31 in its retracted position the strip of felt l9 travels in a path out of contact with the pouncing roll 35. In its released position, however, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the pressure roll 3'! serves to bring into engagement with the surface of the pouncing roll a relatively small area of the felt strip. As indicated in the drawings the pressure roll is relatively narrow having a width in the present apparatus of, for example, about three inches. Accordingly as the strip is caused to travel, the outer surface of the felt is abraded or pounced along a relatively narrow path and as the pressure roll 3'! is fed laterally, the path will have a slight spiral. In general, however, since the traverse is relatively slow and the strip has considerable length it will be abraded in successive longitudinal paths which overlap laterally. The speed of the cross feed of the pressure roll and the degree of overlapping will depend upon various factors such as the speed and length of the felt strip. Also the pouncing may be performed in one or several passes of the pressure r011 across the strip. In practice, it has been found, for example, that a very satisfactory finish may be imparted by one complete forward and back traverse of the pressure roll, that is two passes across the surface of the strip. The desired rate of traverse will vary dependent upon the circumstances and will of course be related to the length of the strip and its rate of travel. As a practical example, with a strip having a length of about 45 feet traveling at a moderate speed such as one in which the seam l I may be readily followed by the eye, and the strip having a width of about 26 inches, the rate of traverse may be such that a complete pouncing operation comprising a traverse across and back is performed in about three to four minutes. The pouncing roll 35 will, of course, have a relatively rapid surface speed considerably higher than the linear speed of the strip. The strip may be fully and satisfactorily pounced to the extreme edge by insuring that the pressure roll 3'! at the starting and extreme ends of its travel extends out beyond and overlaps the edge of the strip.

With the apparatus disclosed and as operated in accordance with the above description, the strip is, of course, pounced on one side only. The other side may be conveniently and readily pounced by removing the adhesive tape I I, turning the strip over and rejoining it ends; the operation is then the same as that described above.

The mechanism preferably embodies a means for removing abraded particles and dust from the surface of the strip concurrently with the pouncing operation. For this purpose, as diagrammatically shown in Fig. l, a suction device embodying a tube 5| is mounted to travel with the beam 40 and bear against the under surface of the strip, the tube 5! having a source of suction connected thereto at its outer end 52. The upper surface of the tube 5| is provided with suitable slots 53 which are preferably restricted in length to provide a stronger suction over the area covered by the slots arranged to engage the strip along a path substantially corresponding to thatbeing pounced.

The additional Figures 2 to 7 show an apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the device shown diagrammatically in Fig. l 1 and described above: Elements inthese: figures showing the machine details =-areidenti-. fled byreference-characters similar-to those em-:

ployed in Fig.- l wherepracticable. The apparatus-as shownparticularly in-Fi'g; 2, comprises.

two major assemblies. The" one at the righ-t-embodiesthe'strip supporting rolls [6 andlflmountedonaaframework BOadaptedtobe adjusted for ward or back on :thesupporting.track; 6 l. to compensatecorrespondinglyfor different lengths. of the-strip lllfandlit will, be. apparent that the. ar+

rangementsenables the machine. to be operatedv upon, strips. which: may. vary considerably; in' length: The two rolls 1|6-:and..|8:aresmonnted on a suitable.supportinglbrackettGZ securedttoeframe' 60;. The arolLl firisrdriven from themotord'i as heretoiore describedi In :applying :a; strip: initially. to :the machine, it 1 is 'threaded-xoverqthe;respective rolls and: the two endsemay. then: be; temporarily; clampedon the table 63 and joined;togetheras bYIJIGSSUIB'SEDSi-i tive tape whichmay be.:,ironed down upon-r-the abutting .ends of the strip;. During this operation thev entire carriage associated'withothe {frame .68 is-set in. a forward position toward the :otherendi ofi-themachine so asgto :provide ample slack in.

of a-br-ake means fi l'adapted'to engage a braking.

areaonthatruck wheel 65'under the-force of spring 65. The-brake-vmaybe readilyreleased'by applyingfoot pressureto the pedal 61.

Referring. to. the. other end of the 'machinein Fig-.. Zand tothe elevationthereof shown in Fig.1

3, itwillbe noted that this embodies the major operating elements described in connection with Fig.,.l .includingthe strip supporting rolls 12; I l, l5 and, i9 and, the .pouncing roll 35; The mechanism at-this. end of. .the machine includes a base 7 or. frame. liliprovidedwith abracket H which supports. the-motor.v l3 .having a. belt connection 72 to drive the. stripieeding roll. 12.. The base alsolhaslabracket l3 supporting'themotor 36 whichhas a beltdrive connection. 75 tothe pounc- 79. Mountedon the upperface of these plates:

are brackets .30 and 8l respectively which have bearing" supports" for, the trunnions. of the strip supporting roll. I 9?- Additional brackets 82. and 83carried'on the plates ,provideb'earing supports forthe strip roll i4: Depending from the. lower surface of the plates 18*and;'Hlarebrackets 84' and;85' providingi bearingsupports ,for the strip roll l5:

A*-carriage:or saddle Sills adaptedlto betranse lated alongarpair-of iguide ways 9! located ad jacent the top surface of the bed portion was:

the fr'a-me. As appears; in Fig. 2in particular, the 'saddle'flilincludes'a vertical apron portion bracket 93 which-in'turn has rigidly mounted thereon therail or I-beam 40, earliendescribed.

.70 925* Theksaddle is provided with arsupporting.

dfl'lcarriesihe pressm e -roll 31 and related zsu'p ports and also the lever 49 -andits latch rfic and operating rod 39..for retracting 1 the pressure roll 31 and securinguit :in ineiiectiveposition as-dee sired; The outer-end or the: rail 40; that is-theright. end in Figure -3;1has. suitable supports on the trainer incl'udinga .guide'roll Q uponwhichthe bottom face ofttherail id-rides; In FigureS thebed. part 'Hiazand therrail Ail and otherassoe' ciated: parts areshown-inbroken linesat the right ofthersaddleflflssand lit iiWill; ;be understood that these parts; will :have: sufficient :length such that the spressure roll 31 may'travel from theposition.

shownatotitsxextreme :right hand position without theasaddlefiil; for: example, engaging-against any of v the epermanent supporting structure forthe.

strip; .rolls::and :otherzfixed position elements:

The. :z'saddle '90 ?'carries,:: in addition. to 'thecrail 46,-an1arm 95whichsupports at its outer end the tube-.- 5 I comprising "the: suctionumeans dc.

scribedinaconnection with Fig. 1; In Fig;'3jth e: tube. 5! is shown .witha fiexible connection" 511a; which may, in View of the flexibilityof tthe tube, be connected to a suction .source mountedyinra,

stationaryposition, or-a suction creating .tmeans;

may bee-mounted ;to travel with the apron 90.;

The traverse of the carriage 01' saddlered may be" eifected by any: suitable drive. means: WhiOh" in thepresent'case is shown-as a lead screw :42 cooperating" with -a:-non'rotary nut 9i mounted; in a, bracket 98; depending from the saddle Qil, between the guidewwaysets The lead FSCIQW' 32. in .thepresent embodiment of the inventionis: rotatedby means of a motor 9 which,-' through. a suitable-gearreduction I00, drives apulley ml which in turn through the .belt l @2: drives: the pulley; I03, mounted on the: end 1 of the lead; screw 42.

As'described inconnection with Figured, the

pressure roll 31 mounted-on the rail 40 desirably maybe caused to travel on a feed cyclein either direction, and forexample may-.havaa cycle of. one complete traverse-across in onedirectionand. back-to thestarting point. Accordingly suitable. selective controlmeans are provided. These may be .ofthe merely -manually operatedtype and comprise, therefore,- simple electrical switches adapted to beset tostart and stop'andrevers ingpositionsr. Preferably, however, the apparatus is provided.withautomatic controls at least to the extent of "preventing over run at the end of: the V. traverse in either direction. The exact structural character of such automatic controls: will depend .upon the. desired type of operation and:since they are well known and commercially obtainable the disclosurewill not b encumbered hasylead in-wires'106 from the source-of power" and lines- 101 connected to thereversible motor:

99 driving; the lead screw 42. The-contro1 box;

is provided with amanual control lever l 08 :which maybe suitably-connected: to give complete control"; of; the operation: that is' to cause.- starting. and operation in either direction and stopping.

.In'additi'onthe switches I09 and [IO-connected by electrical circuit-means tocontrol box lll5are adapted to efiect automatic control of the traverse through suitable circuits and relays: Switch I09 is mounted in fixed position on the frame "as-indicated also in- Fig; 3 and -has-an opcrating finger [09a adapted to be engaged by a trip lug I091) adjustably mounted on a bar Ill (see Fig. 2) on the traversing rail 40 and thereby, through the mechanism in control box I05, to stop, and if preferred, to reverse the motor at the end of the desired traverse to the right in Fig. 3. Similarly the switch I It has a finger I Illa adapted to be engaged by the trip lug Hob adjustably mounted on the rail 40 to stop the motor at the end of the traverse in the opposite direction. As has been stated the means shown is generally diagrammatic of one type of control and it will be understood that various types may be employed dependent upon the circumstances and the character of the desired cycle. It will likewise be appreciated that, although several motors are employed in the present embodiment for accomplishing the various driving functions, most or all of these drives could be obtained from a lesser number or even one motor provided with suitabl driving connections including change gear mechanism and reversing clutches.

It is desirable to provide means to check any substantial lateral deviation of the strip and to maintain it in a predetermined path of travel. Such a means has been referred to in connection with Figure l and described as including the rod 22 pivoted at 23 on the fixed support 24. As shown particularly in Fig. 6 the support 24 comprises an arm extending from a long overhead bar H6 connected at its ends to the brackets l6 and T. respectively. Rocking of the bar 22 during the travel of the strip will cause the strip to move laterally in one direction or the other, depending on the position of the rod 22. This may be accomplished manually, but preferably is controlled automatically. Various types of automatic controls may be adopted for the purpose. In the present apparatus a photoelectric cell system is employed comprising a pair of light sources H! and H8 designed to direct a beam of light into the photoelectric cells H9 and I20 respectively, which photoelectric cells are connected to the operating device 26 through appropriate electrical wiring connections I21. Such electrical control and adjusting systems are known per se and form no part of the present invention and accordingly the disclosure is not encumbered with the details thereof but is directed more to the general functions. It may be assumed that the edge [b of the strip will normally occupy a position substantially as shown in Fig. 6 in which the beam of light from source H! to its photoelectric cell H9 is cut off, but the beam of light from source H8 to its photoelectric cell is uninterrupted. If the strip moves to the left in Fig. 6 so that the beam of light from source H! is no longer interrupted, photoelectric cell H9 is activated causing the servo motor device 26 tooperate to raise the control' rod 25, rocking the rod 22 counter-clockwise and forcing the strip to move back to the right in Fig. 6. If the strip creeps over too far to the right the beam from source H8 is interrupted and the reverse operation occurs.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above method and in the constructions set forth which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

.1. The method of pouncing strip felt which includes the steps of joining the ends of an elongated relatively wide strip of unfinished felt to form a closed belt, driving said belt along a predetermined path and abrading relatively narrow substantially longitudinal paths successively across the width of the strip.

2. A method of pouncing unfinished felt in relatively wide elongated strip form embodying the steps of joining the ends of the strip to form a closed belt, feeding the strip continuously in a guided path, and applying to a surface thereof abrading means effective at any instant over a small area and a relatively narrow width portion of said strip and progressively advancing said efiective area transversely across said strip.

3. A method of pouncing unfinished felt made in relatively wide elongated strip form comprising the steps of joining the ends of the strip to form a closed belt, feeding the belt continuously in a guided path past an abrasive surface, and pressing successive narrow width portions of the strip as it travels against said surface.

4. The method of pounding unfinished relatively wide-strip felt fabricated in the form of a closed belt which includes the steps of feeding the strip continuously past a rapidly moving abrasive surface, and pressing against said surface successive relatively narrow width portions of the strip and of small effective area of the strip as it travels.

5. A method of pouncing unfinished felt made in relatively wide elongated strip form comprising the steps of joining the ends of the strip to form a closed belt, feeding the strip continuously in a guided path past a rapidly moving abrasive surface, and pressing a relatively narrow width portion and of small effective area of said strip against said surface and progressively advancing the effective area across said strip whereby said strip is progressively abraded in successively adjacent relatively narrow substantially longitudinal paths.

6. The method of applying a rubbing treatment to a relatively wide strip of fabric material in the form of a closed belt which includes the steps of feeding the strip continuously in a guided path past a relatively moving rubbing surface, and pressing against said rubbing surface a relatively narrow width portion and of small effective area of said strip and progressively advancing the effective area transversely across the strip during its longitudinal travel thereby to treat the strip in successively adjacent relatively narrow substantially longitudinal paths.

'7. The method of pouncing strip felt which includes the steps of joining the ends of an elongated relatively wide strip of unfinished felt to form a closed belt, driving said strip along a predetermined path and abrading relatively narrow substantially longitudinal paths successively across the width of the strip, and concurrently removing abraded felt particles from substantially correspondin paths.

8. The method of abrading strip fabric material prepared in the form of a closed belt which includes the steps of feeding the belt continuously in a guided path past a rapidly moving abrasive surface, and pressing a relatively narrow width portion and of small effective area of said belt against said surface and traversing the area of compression laterally of the belt during its longitudinal travel to abrade said belt along continuous narrow generally longitudinal overlapping paths.

9. The method of pouncing unfinished strip i felt f abricated inzthei form. of" alclosedbelt which includes the stepsof feeding thebeltcontinuously over" guide" means 'inxapath adjacent to but normally 'spaced:a-small distance from a: relatively moving abrading-surface, deflecting a relatively "narrowwidth portiori andof small effective area o'fsaid belt-againstsaidsurf ace and progressively advancing the effective area across the width whereby'the strip is abraded intransversely suc- -cessive relatively "narrow substantially longitudinal paths.

10. Amethod or pouncing-ur'ifinished felt made i in relatively -wide "elongated strip form comprisingthesteps of joining the endsof the-stripto form aclose'd belt, feeding the strip continuously --over=- spaced guide 'means in-=apathadjacent" tobut normally spaced a small distance from a rapidly moving abrading surface, deflecting a'relativelynarrow width portion and of small effective area ofv saidv strip into engagement with saidi surface and" progressively'advancing the area of :vengagement laterally of 'thestrip during its longitudinal travel to abrade the strip along continuous narrow generallyalongitudinal overlapping paths.

11. In a machine for treating the surface of a strip material "in belt formgin. combination, a i plurality of spaced "belt supports and means for driving the belt" continuously thereover,-a roller arranged ad'jacent'the'path of travel of the belt and 'havinga length at least equal to the width of the-belt said roller having a 1 treatingssurface, means 'to' rotate said roller, apressure device arranged to press a portion of said beltiagainst *said'rollen'said'device" having a width relatively short compared to the length of said roller and the width of the belt to be treated, and means for traversing said pressure device laterally of said belt concurrently with the longitudinal travel of the latter.

12. In a machine for treating the surface of a strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supports and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, a first roller supported adjacent the path of travel of said belt and having a length at least equal to the width of the belt, a complemental roller located on the opposite side of said path of belt travel from said first roller and means for pressing it forward to compress the belt between the rollers, said complemental roller having a length relatively short compared to that of said first roller and the width of the belt to be treated, one of said rollers having a surface for physically treating the surface of said belt and provided with means for imparting thereto a peripheral speed differential to the longitudinal speed of said belt, and means to traverse said complemental roller across said belt concurrently with the longitudinal travel of the latter.

13. In a machine for treating the surface of a strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supports and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, a roll having a belt treating surface supported adjacent the path of travel of said belt, means for rotating said treating roll at a peripheral speed differential to the linear speed of the belt, a complemental pressure roll located on the opposite side of said path of belt travel from said first roll, means for compressing the belt between said rolls, said pressure roll having a length considerably less than the width of the belt to be treated, and means to traverse said pressure roll across said belt while ,imaintainingthe belt. in longitudinal travel-and compressed between' saidarolls.

.14.. Imastmachinefor .treating the" surface of a strip .material in belt formyin combination, a .plurality or: spaced belt supports'andimeansvfor drivingtthe belt continuously thereover, archer arrangedzadjacent:the path of travel Off the .belt but normally spaced a small: distance from said path :said roller havingz a length at leastz equal to the width to betreated ofnsaid belt andi prolength of saidrollen and the wi'dth 0f 'the'belt to be treated,- and:means for traversing said -pressure device laterally-of the belt-concunrentlywith r the longitudinal-travel of the latter.

T15. "Intamachine for treating the surface 'of a strip material' in belt form, in combination; a plurality: of" spaced belt supports and means for driving-the belt continuously thereover, a treating roller-arranged adjacent the path or travel of'the 'belt and having a length at least equalfto the width of the belt said roller having a-treating sun face, meansto rotate said treating roller;=*a prs sure roller positioned;- and arranged to compress a portion of said belt against said treating roller said pressure roller havingan effective length considerably less than that of said treating-roller and the width of the belt to be treated; and means for traversing said pressure roller la-terally of said belt' concurrently with the longitudinal travelf'of the latter.

16; In amachinefortreating-"thesurface of a strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supports and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, a roller arranged adjacent the path of travel of the belt but normally spaced a small distance from said path said roller having a length at least equal to the width to be treated of said belt and provided with a treating surface, means to rotate said roller, a pressure device mounted at the opposite side of said path of belt travel, resilient means for urging said device forward, said device being arranged thereby to deflect a portion of the width of said belt against said roller, means for releasably holding said device in retracted position, and means for traversing said pressure device laterally of the belt concurrently with the longitudinal travel of the latter.

17. In a machine for treating the surface of a strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supporting rolls and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, means for selectively positioning at least one of said rolls to accommodate belts of material of different length, a roller arranged adjacent the path of travel of the belt having a length at least equal to the width to be treated of said belt and provided with a treating surface, means to rotate said roller, a pressure device of a size and arranged to press a portion only of the width of the belt against said roller, and means for traversing said pressure device laterally of the belt concurrently with the longitudinal travel of the latter.

18. In a machine for treating the surface of a fabric strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supports and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, a belt treating means comprising a pair of pressure elements adapted to compress the belt between them one of said elements having a belt treating surface and provided with means for rapidly moving the treating surface relative to the belt surface, said treating means being constructed to operate on a narrow width relative to the width of the belt, and traversing means operative to translate the efiective area of treatment across the belt whereby the belt is treated in successively adjacent substantially longitudinal paths, suction means for removing loose particles from the treated surface of the belt and means for traversing said suction means across the belt in accordance with the first mentioned traversing means said suction means being arranged to apply suction in a path corresponding to the path of treatment.

19. In a machine for treating the surface of a fabric strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supports and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, a roll having a belt treating surface supported adjacent the path of travel of said belt, means for rotating said treating roll, a pressure device constructed and arranged to compress a portion of the width of the belt against said treating roll, means for traversing said device across the belt while maintaining the belt in longitudinal travel, suction means arranged to apply suction to the treated surface of the belt, and means for traversing said suction means across the belt in accordance with the traverse of said device.

20. In a machine for treating the surface of a strip material in belt form, in combination, a plurality of spaced belt supports and means for driving the belt continuously thereover, a control means automatically operative to correct lateral deviations and maintain the belt substantially in a predetermined longitudinal path of travel, a first roller supported adjacent the path of travel of said belt, a complemental roller located on the opposite side of said path of belt travel from said first roller and means for pressing it forward to compress the belt between the rollers, said complemental roller having a length relatively short compared to the width of the belt to be treated, one of said rollers having a surface for physically treating the surface of said belt and provided with means for imparting thereto a peripheral speed difierential to the longitudinal speed of said belt, and means to traverse said complemental roller across said belt concurrently with the longitudinal travel of the latter.

JOHN E. KANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 24,321 McBurney June 7, 1859 177,662 Richardson May 23, 1876 588,055 Dedicke Aug. 10, 1897 637,121 Huseby Nov. 14, 1899 803,800 Bailey Nov. 7, 1905 8291191 Yarnell Aug. 21, 1906 1,554,925 Showers Sept. 22, 1925 1,684,464 Young Sept. 18, 1928 2,253,558 Curtin Aug. 26, 1941 

